Mayor Bass Swears In First Korean-American Chief of Police For LAPD NR24081cm/jc

Los Angeles: Chief Dominic H. Choi was unanimously appointed by the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners as the 58th Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and assumed his role today, March 1, 2024. Mayor Bass participated in the ceremonial swearing-in of Chief Choi at the Los Angeles Police Headquarters.

Speakers included the President of the Los Angeles Police Commission Dr. Erroll G. Southers, Los Angeles City Council President Paul Krekorian, and the City of Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, followed by Chief Choi’s statements.

Chief Choi was born in Los Angeles and began his career with the LAPD on November 27, 1995. He worked a variety of divisions and promoted through the ranks to lead various divisions including Captain of Foothill Division, Risk Management Division, and Pacific Division.

In December 2017, he was promoted to Commander and assigned to Operations-Central Bureau where he was also appointed as the Department’s Homeless Coordinator and remained in that position until 2019. In August 2019, Chief Choi made history by becoming the first Korean-American Deputy Chief of LAPD. Chief Choi expressed gratitude and his desire to work closely with Mayor Karen Bass and the City Council members as he leads the department. Chief Choi also recognized the leadership and guidance of former Chief of Police Michel Moore, and the experience he gained during former Chief Moore’s tenure.

According to Mayor Bass, when Chief Choi was asked about why he didn’t want to become permanent Chief of Police, he stated, “It wasn’t about titles, it was about service.”

Chief Dominic H. Choi
58th Chief of Police of the Los Angeles Police Department

The ceremony can be viewed at the following link:
https://fb.watch/qxKboW-jng/?mibextid=cr9u03

Chief Choi’s full biography can be viewed at the following link:
https://www.lapdonline.org/command-staff/choi-dominic/